Stu

Will certainly be following this. You've got a lot of extras to go with the kit so should be stunning in the end. And yes, bunker is the correct term for the coal space, well in English at least, no idea what it is in German...... As for the rail if you have a problem have a look here http://www.ehattons.com/33443/Peco_Products_SL_800_1_yard_91_4cm_length_of_Code_200_Wooden_sleeper_nickel_silver_flexible_track/StockDetail.aspx It's not quite the right scale and the gauge is slightly too wide but you might be able to use the rail on it's own or I believe its possible to cut a small bit out of each sleeper and re-join it to the correct gauge. Having seen the detail you putting in don't think you'd find it a big problem. And if you use this track you could use "real" ballast in stead of the dismal moulded Trumpeter track base. Anyhow will be following this. Cheers Stu

Think the old maxim about the truth being stranger than fiction might apply here. Conspiracy or cock up ? Whichever it's all very bizarre but if I were betting on anything I'd be out over the Southern Ocean looking, unpalatable prospect though it is. Stu

It's triggered the realisation I'm so far over the hill I'm getting near the dribbly bit Nice to know others remember Four Feather Falls. Every time I mention it just get blank looks. Anyhow great work and look forward to the finished project. TV ain't what it used to be.... Altogether now "I wish I was a spaceman, the fastest guy alive........ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ifS2nP53Zs Stu

Thank you John. They were very impressive looking and a bit un-British looking, equally impressive performance when all the bits worked properly. Stu

This would have been an ideal entry into the Obsolete Kit Group Build as the kit first appeared in 1960 (I think) under the Kimaster label. It’s subsequently appeared both from Airfix and now Dapol. The moulds were evidently copied at some stage but never cleaned up or modified to my knowledge so I wasn’t too shocked when I got a close look. Now I’ll happily confess I know more about these locos than say a Spit or a Lightning and even got up close and personal to them in 67 just before their final days. Given the age of the mouldings and the fact it was designed as a “working” model detail is pretty basic and there’s plenty of compromises. The ashpan and trailing truck are moulded as one for example. However the basics aren’t to bad and a good basis for a bit of fun. The tender is pretty good but let down by the moulded on ladders which were carved off and replaced by whitemetal ones, the tender front was also remodelled and some more detail added to the tank top out of bits of plastic and wire. The plastic “coal” was carved out and a plasticard false floor added. When the model was complete it was filled with real coal broken down to scale size. On the loco some additional detail was added to the top of the boiler, a bit of extra detail to the cab interior and the windows backdated to the earlier 2 pane arrangement. Some fairly vague piping was added under the cabs to represent the injectors and other bits. At the front end brass wire was used to create the characteristic long drain cock pipes under the cylinders and the completely absent electric marker lights added to the front end from carved up plastic section. Finished in BR green from Precision and the decals used for the tender totem, number and lining from assorted sources. It was weathered with assorted paints,oils and powders. It is finished as 34062 17 Squadron which in the early 50’s was running regularly into Kent. Quite pleased with the result and now quite tempted with a 9F Apologies for the iffy pics and thanks for looking Stu

Aaah, someone did wonder that. Twas nice to daydream for a mo. Thanks Rich. Stu

Cheers Guys

Hi, In one of the Telford threads there was a reference to Airfix having 2 OO railway wagons on their stand. It's been years since Airfix had any railway models on their books but now they're part of Hornby are they getting back into rail kits ? Any info gratefully received. Ta Stu

Hi Michael, I used Tamiya's Chrome silver out the bottle which I assume must similar to the rattle can colour. As these were painted High Speed Silver think it's not a bad stab at the real "shade" though apparently there's an Alclad that is really good. The RAAF one to go with it would make a nice display though as mmaker says the Lebanese one looks good. Nice job you've done there. Stu

Good Lord Dick, WHAT are you putting on your cornflakes. Absolutely brill, you should be very pleased with that. Stu

Excessions Fivetides Humidyear VII's' Kiss the Blade - visions of a steampunk porcupine, not that I know much about steampunk..... Stu

Agree but having done one of these with somewhat similar results I suspect it looks a bit less obvious in "real life". Out of interest what did you use for the panel lines Ian ? Stu

Hi, I don't remember the last time I did identical kits back to back but here it is. Paints from Tamiya, decals from Hannants, Eduard etch - some at least - in the cockpit and AZ wash. Learnt a few things from this build http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234947337-vampire-t55-swiss-af-more-pics/ so it progressed quickly. Doesn't mean it's any better though. Used Maskol on the canopy and some of the framing edges are a tad ropey, should have used tape. Dithered a bit over which one to pick off the sheet, the Lebanese one looks fun, but in the end went with the RAN one. The instructions called for black wing/tailplane leading edges which seemed a bit odd but was borne out by the couple of photos I found trawling the net. A few pics which aren't brilliant but you'll get the idea. Thanks for looking, Stu

Groan...... Dick you need a new scriptwriter! Thank you for the comments, I'm pleased with the results though I now need a few more suitable wagons. Stu

Gorgeous! Stu

The Matchbox kit is an HU5 (I don't think I've ever seen this kit and doubt they're easy to get) and you need an HAS1 - see http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=2152 down page. The HAS1 had 2 small exhausts each side while the HU5 had a single larger one each side. It'll be worth Googling Westland Wessex and reading up a bit about them. The Modeldecal has so much on it you can probably mix and match to get things right. HTH Stu Edit - Mark got the first!

Hi, Hope this helps http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/MD099 ttp://www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/italeri-172-westland-wessex-has3-falklands/ Stu

In between doubling my Vampire collection got sucked in by this. Based on livery/condition around 2000 I've repainted Hornby 08 and similarly mangled a Bacchy OBA. The 08 repaint was relatively straightforward in spite of not being able to remove any hand rails. Both were done with Precision paints, a mix of Fox and Railtec decals. Weathering is based on assorted photo’s in a continuing effort to improve my artistic interpretation of the real things rather than something more generic. The 08 was inspired by http://www.flickr.com/photos/55938574@N03/10141192855/ . Anyhow it kept me out the pub…... sort of! Thanks for looking Stu

Quite right, I'll chain Jenko to their front doors if one doesn't appear (he's a 48th modeller so therefore expendable in the cause of progress ) Stu

If that was mine I'd be well pleased. Done a nice job there and also good to see a Korean war one. Stu

Well that's my Sabre group build subject sorted then :-) With the Lottery going up to £2 a go now I'll stick a pound a week in a tin and hopefully have enough saved by the time it hits the shelves. Stu

Cheers for the link Sean, a bit of light (!) reading...... Stu

August 14 - excellent, time to save up and get a few bits together. Unless that is Julien does the philanthropic bit and provides us all with a kit.............. On more down to earth note Canadair Sabre Mk 6's - 6-3 wing with slats?? If so is the Academy F-86F-40 the same thing. Cheers Stu

Hi, Thank you for the comments. A few more pics for which I apologise, my model photography is dismal at the best of times but hopefully you'll get the idea. Never sure the best background etc when attempting to photo something as reflective as this. Some shots from yesterday on a white background made it look as if it was covered in glitter powder... Hopefully Airfix will do a "weird and wacky" version sometime but I was mildly surprised they had two RAF options in this boxing as they seemed to be getting a reputation for having interesting options. One minor curiosity I noticed on the Xtradecal sheet was that the walkway stencils for the inboard flaps are too big. The one's over the intakes also have a slightly different shape, they taper a bit more noticeably. I did wonder if Xtrakits had a kit planned. Definitely do another but would look at RAF L.A.Grey one with stripes or perhaps a Chilean desert camo one. Thanks for looking Cheers Stu

Hi, From the rather nice Airfix kit and Xtradecal sheet. Fairly straightforward build though as others have noted the intake/wing join needs a bit of wrangling to get right. Put some Eduard etch in the cockpit but should have left the seats out until after painting. Too worried about pulling out some of the etch to mask up with the seats in. Lot of interesting "minor" air force schemes for this one and plenty on the Xtradecal sheets. The decals wanted to come off the backing as soon as you got them near water and needed careful handling. Particularly the walkway markings. Plenty of stencils most of which virtually vanished on the silver surface. Painted Tamiya Chrome silver which may be a bit grainy for 72nd and weathered with oil wash. All in all a fun build. Stu